Boeing 727-251 N295US
21 January 1991 · St. Paul, Minnesota, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 21 January 1991 at about 02:45 local time, a Boeing 727-251 registered N295US, operated by Northwest Airlines, Inc., was involved in an incident near St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. 44 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 02:45
- Classification
- Incident
- Location
- St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
- Nearest airport
- Mineapolis St. Paul (MSP)
- Coordinates
- 44.8800, -93.1998
- Aircraft
- Boeing 727-251
- Registration
- N295US
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 3
- Operator
- Northwest Airlines, Inc.
- Operating rule
- Part 121: Air Carrier
- Purpose of flight
- Unknown
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Unknown → Philadelphia
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night/Bright
- NTSB number
- CHI91IA078
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
Probable cause
THE PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE AIRPLANE'S AUXILIARY POWER UNIT, AND THE INADEQUATE COMPONENT PRODUCED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE FLIGHT CREW WAS INFORMED BY THE TOWER OF A FIRE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. THE FIRE PRECEEDED BY UTILIZING THE AUXILARY POWER UNIT (APU) FOR A MAIN ENGINE START. THE MAIN ENGINE START WAS ABORTED WHEN THE APU FAILED TO DELIVER SUFFICIENT BLEED AIR PRESSURE. A POST INCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE APU DISCLOSED A LIBERATED TURBINE EXDUCER BLADE WHICH CAUSED AN IMBALANCE OF THE TURBINE WHEEL, ALLOWING SMOPKE AND FLAMES TO ESCAPE FROM THE APU EXHAUST ATOP THE RIGHT WING ROOT. THERE HAS BEEN 7 SERVICE DIFFICULTY REPORTS AND 4 ACCIDENTS/INCIDENTS ASSOCIATED WITH EXDUCER FAILURES IN THIS MODEL APU IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Boeing 727 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 1991 | Boeing 727-223 | Nashville, Tennessee, United States | American Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 3 May 1991 | Boeing 727-100QC | Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States | Ryan International Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jun 1991 | Boeing 727-214 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | Usair | No injuries | - |
| 2 Jul 1991 | Boeing 727-254 | Buffalo, New York, United States | Trump Shuttle, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Boeing 727-223 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | American Airlines, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 1991 | Boeing 727-224 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Continental Airlines | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Apr 1991 | Piper PA-28-140 | Hibbing, Minnesota, United States | WM. & Audrey Svigel | Minor injuries | - |
| 21 May 1991 | Piper PA-22-160 | Mankato, Minnesota, United States | Steve/Chris Napier | No injuries | - |
| 17 Oct 1991 | Cessna 172P | Maple Lake, Minnesota, United States | Crystal Shamrock, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Beechcraft C-23 | Cottage Grove, Minnesota, United States | General Avaition Services | Minor injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Cessna 150 | Cambridge, Minnesota, United States | Thomas W. Parker | No injuries | - |
| 28 May 1991 | Piper PA28-140 | Albany, Minnesota, United States | Skalicky, Norm | No injuries | - |